BJP Spokesperson for Bengaluru brings attention to corruption in city bureaucracy.
Bengaluru, 11 April 2019
By Ajay Ramanathan
The BJP spokesperson for Bengaluru City and Urban District, Ramesh NR accused the members of the Karnataka Road Development Corporation(KRDCL) of corruption. Ramesh noted that 13 officials including members of the Public Works Department had issued tenders illegally.
Ramesh especially mentioned the Varthur Peripheral Corridor. He said “The sanctioned money for the corridor was roughly 2550 Crores. However, 3103 Crores was spent. The due protocol was not followed wherein a time period of 60 days is supposed to be taken to select a new tender. Instead, a new tender was issue in 14 days. The KRDCL chose Nagabhushana Construction Limited (NCC) as tenders instead of the original tenders. ”
Specifically mentioning JDS member and PWD Chairman HD Revannah, Ramesh said, “ Revannah had used 10 Crore of kickbacks that he had attained from the tender for campaigning in Hassan and Tumkuru.”
The Spokesperson also listed various officials like Congress party member S Mahadevappa and BS Shivappa. Ramesh noted that the latter already had cases pending against him in the Lokayukta. However, Ramesh noted that he had earlier brought this information to the official’s notice but to no avail. “I am ready to defend these charges If the aforementioned Ministers contest the charges against them.” Ramesh also added that Revanna had appointed one Krishna Reddy to the KRDCL despite his outing from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP).
Ramesh explained that 24 of the 25 illegal tender packets were issued to companies from Kerela and Andhra Pradesh so that the corrupt practices would not be detected by Karnataka law enforcement.
Noting that he had attained the information through the Right to Information Act( RTI), Ramesh added that he had given these list of names to the Lokayukta. Revannah noted that he wished for the matter to investigated by the CID( Crime Investigation Department).
